Some kids are asking for a 'free summer' — no camp, no classes, no schedule. Here's what parents need to know.

Summer for my kids, ages 6 and 9, usually consists of a sampler of summer camps, slotted in between any camping trips or family visits that bleed into the weekdays. I try to come up with a fun variety for them, with a mix of nature-, arts- and sports-based activities, but, for me, camp is my best child care option. But when catalogs started coming out around late February and I asked my daughter what she wanted to do this year, she threw her head back and moaned, “Mom, can I have a free summer?” She wanted to stay home and “relax,” she said, not go to camp all week.

In the olden days (the '90s), kids could spend their summers roaming with neighborhood kids. Millennials and Gen Xers wax poetic about the trouble they got up to as kids during the summers, blowing up G.I. Joes and falling out of trees. Now these same people are parents who would never let their children out of their sight long enough to torture a Ghost Spider action figure, let alone leave their own property without adult supervision. However, since many parents work from home now, and since free time has benefits for kids, some families are opting for less structured summers.

The appeal of a "free" summer

For one thing, camp — either as a form of daycare, or tied to an enrichment activity like soccer or pottery — is expensive and out of reach for many families. By comparison, keeping the kids at home costs nothing, though, in the absence of a parent, relative or friend who can supervise or swap child care duties, babysitting fees may be involved.

Experts also believe free time is good for kids for a number of reasons. “Unstructured time for kids can be an opportunity for them to decompress and relax, especially when they have scheduled and structured activities at other times,” says Eric Nass, a clinical psychologist with New Health in Boston who works with children, adolescents and families.

"A free summer can be an amazing way for kids to learn more about themselves, build skills and practice creative problem-solving when they can’t find something they want to do," adds psychiatrist and parent coach Dr. Jessica Beachkofsky. "They can become more confident in themselves and their abilities."

But it's not for everyone

The lack of structure can cause concern for parents, however. Some kids, especially those who are neurodiverse or who like order, get anxious when there is not a clear routine and may struggle with having their days unscheduled.

Nass agrees that a complete lack of structure isn’t necessarily the right move. “Kids develop interests and skills as a result of being exposed to a range of activities and learning areas. Without the structure that comes with external activities, kids may miss out on opportunities to explore and discover new interests and things they like,” he says.

Others might crave more social interactions or planned activities and outings, or lack the ability to entertain themselves. "Some kids may balk at the idea of a 'free' summer if they are used to constant stimulation or enjoy being in groups like at summer camps,” Beachkofsky tells Yahoo Life.

“I don't think they loved staying home last summer as much as they thought they would,” says Holly, a mom to two kids ages 7 and 9 who asked to not share her last name. As a writer who also works remotely for a brand agency, she found that her children grew restless when left to their own devices. "It contributed to a damaging feeling of ‘Mom would rather work or write than pay attention to us’" she adds, noting that that feeling "is worse when they're in the same house and can see me.” This year her kids are going to camps with friends.

“I've also come to realize that a summer with no structure whatsoever doesn't work well for my kids,” agrees Julie Vick, mom to a 9- and 11-year-old. She says that "doing some half-day camps here and there helps build in some structure and gives me a chance to get other things done.”

Nass agrees that “‘external activity’ can come in many shapes and sizes, ranging from camps and other recreational programs to play dates with friends.” He adds, "When it’s possible to aim for a balance between structured time and unstructured time, that usually works best.”

Age, screen time and other factors to consider

Not all parents will have the option of working from home, or have access to reliable child care (such as a retired grandparent). For safety reasons, young children will require supervision in the form of a babysitter or daycare provider. But is it OK to leave an older child home alone? Legally, the age at which kids can be left without supervision varies from state to state. The language around some child neglect laws can also be vague, often saying something along the lines of parents needing to “provide proper supervision,” without a definition of what “proper” might be. But even once a child is “of age,” parents may not consider them ready to be alone or put in charge of watching younger siblings.

With a sitter or without, there's also the concern that kids who are allowed to hang out at home all summer will spend the time glued to their electronic devices. If a parent is worried about excessive screen time, Nass suggests setting "clear rules and expectations" for the use of screens, which will likely vary according to the child's age.

Ultimately, every family will have unique needs. How a kid spends the summer will largely be dictated by finances and access to child care options, in addition to the child’s temperament and individual needs. Not every kid will thrive in a wholly unstructured setting, but there is a case for working in some degree of free time.

“Most types of growth occur gradually over time, so it’s a good practice to add new opportunities for independence gradually when possible,” says Nass. “You know your child best, so it’s important to trust your own instincts and judgment about how to introduce new opportunities for their growing independence."

Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here.